Transfer device



July 2, 1963 R. C. LAPOF TRANSFER DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 24y 6". 44/ 01- F'iled March 9, 1962 July 2, 1963 R. 'c. LAPOF 3,095,797 TRANSFER DEVICE Filed March 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States v Patent Ofifice York Filed Mar. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 178,759 4 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) This invention relates to photo-graphic processing equipment, and more particularly relates to a device for handling film sheets or plates during the terminal stages of processing the same. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a carriage or manipulating vehicle for use in conjunction with cut film or plates mounted on film hangers for processing of the same. In certain applications, as exemplified in the medical X-ray field, it is desired to inspect partially processed sheets or plates, i. e. before the films are fully fixed or washed. Where such inspection is desired, it is known practice to employ a so-called through-the-wall tank installation wherein parts of the processing tank are located in the darkroom and other parts located in a wet film viewing room separated from. the darkroom by a partition. Such an installation obviates the necessity of walking back and forth between the darkroom and the viewing room.

The section of the tank in each said room are provided with interlocking, light proof covers which may be opened one at a time. The partly processed films, which are mounted on hangers, are shifted manually through the tank from the darkroom to the viewing room, where they may be inspected.

The present invention relates to means which may be loaded in the darkroom and which may be operated from the darkroom to shift the films to the viewing room and release the films at a desired point in the tank within the viewing room.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a film hanger transfer carriage for use in connection with a through-the-wall tank. A further object of this invention is the provision of an automatic release film transfer carriage of simple construction, rendering the same suitable for economical manufacture. To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of a through-the-wall tank and transfer carriage, in accordance with the invention;

. FIGURE 2 is a magnified fragmentary perspective view of the tank and transfer carriage;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a transfer carriage in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a magnified, fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, a through-the-wall tank 10 is provided with a terminal processing compartment 11, normally the wash tank, a partition 12 forming the, division between the wet film viewing side W and the darkroom side D, intersecting the tank 11 so that 3,095,797. Patented July 2, 1963 tions to assure that only one of the two covers may be opened at any one time, thereby to prevent admission of light to and fogging of film in the darkroom.

The tank 11 includes the usual side wall portions 20, 21, each of which is provided with a longitudinally extending ledge 22, 23, welded or otherwise secured to side wall portions 20, 21, respectively. The ledges 22, 23 are provided with generally horizontally disposed runway port-ions 24 and 25, respectively, and upturned lips or track portions 26 and 27, respectively. The upper edges 28, 29 of lip or track portions 26 and 27 are disposed at a level above'that of the runway portions 24 and 25.

The film hanger transfer carriage 30 comprises a generally rectangular frame including end supports 31, 32 of right angular stock material and side wall members 33, 34 secured at their ends, as by welding, to the end supports 31, 32. The lower portions of side wall members 33 and 34 are formed to define generally flat lower support or skid portions 35 and 36, which rest on runways 24, 25, respectively, thereby enabling the carriage 30 to be shifted or slid horizontally along the length of tank 11 betweenv limiting positions defined by the end walls 37, 38 of the tank.

The inner faces of side walls 33, 34 are provided with sheet metal flanges 40 which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, are generally L-shaped members, one branch 41 of said members being welded or otherwise fixed to a side wall 33 or 34, and the other branch 42 extending normal to the side wall and inwardly over the tank. The extending branches 42 of the flanges 40 fixed to wall 33 are in coplanar alignment with the corresponding branches 42 of the flanges 40 fixed to wall 34. It will be readily observed that instead of discontinuous flanges extending only part way across the tank, it is possible to employ strips of sheeted metal extending completely across the tank and having their terminal edges welded to the walls 33, 34. The lower edges 43 of flanges 40 are located a distance above the upper edges 28, 29 of tracks 26, 27, respectively, to provide considerable clearance. Similarly, the lower edges 31a, 32a of the end supports 31, 32 are located at a level considerably above the upper edge portions 28 and 29.

The flanges 40 are provided with gravity pawls 50 which are swingably supported from the extending branches 42 of the flanges.

The pawls 50 are supported to be swingable in a vertical plane within the spaced, circular apertures 45, 46 formed in the branches 42. The pawls 50, which are optionally formed of heavy wire, include an upper, generally circular portion 51- and a depending finger portion 52. The circular portion 51 is looped through apertures 45, 46 and is thus permitted a range of vertical swinging movement, although the lateral movement or play of the pawls, i.e. in the plane of branches 42 is restricted by 'reason of the spacing of apertures 45, 46.

As best seen from FIGURE 6, the shank or finger 52 of the pawls normally hangs vertically alongside the leading face 47. of the flanges 40. Thus, while the pawls are permitted a considerable range of clockwise pivotal movement (as viewed in FIGURE 6), the range of counterclockwise pivotal movement of the pawls relative to the flanges is limited in that after a small increment of movement, the shank 52 of the pawl will engage the lower edge 43 of the flange. The lower ends 53 of the fingers 52 of pawls 50 lie normally at a level below the upper edges 28, 2.9 of tracks 26, 27, respectively.

The carriage device is used in conjunction with film support hangers known generally as cut film hangers 60. The hangers 60 function to support the cut films to prevent curling or buckling during processing and comprise a generally rectangular frame 61 provided with means (not shown) for holding the edges of the film or plate to maintain the film in generally planar condition within the frame 61. Support bar 62 is secured at the upper edges of the frame 61, the bar 62 being of such length as to extend beyond the frame and across the width of the tank 11, the'ends 63, -64 of the bar 62 thus being seated atop the edges 28, 29 of the tracks 26, 27, respectively, 'thus to support the major portions of the frames 61 of the hangers at a level beneath the processing levels of the liquid in the tank 11. The height of the bar 62 is such as to permit the lower edges 31a, 32a and 43 of the end supports and flanges to pass freely over the bars when the edges of the bars are supported on the upper edges of the tracks.

When it is desired to shift a series of partially processed films from the darkroom D to the wet film viewing room W, the operator in the darkroom opens the inner lightproof cover C1 and places the selected hangers between the adjcaent flanges 40 of the carriage so that the bars 62 rest on the upper edges of the tracks 26, 27. The number of hangers which may be shifted is, of course, dependent upon the number of flanges provided and the spacing of the flanges, it being possible to insert a plurality of hangers between adjacent flanges. When the carriage is loaded as desired, the operator grasps the trailing end support 31. and slides the carriage 30 outwardly into desired position within the wet film viewing room W. The movement aforesaid will cause a concommitant movement of the hangers adjacent a leading edge of flanges 40, the fingers 52 of pawls 50 serving to engage the bars 62 of the hangers and push the latter along with the carriage. The engagement of the fingers 52 with the lower edges 43 of flanges 40 (solid line position, FIGURE 6) will prevent the fingers 52 from riding over the hanger bars 62 when the carriage is urged in the direction shown in FIGURE 2.

When the carriage is shifted to the desired position in the wet film viewing room W, the operator withdraws the carriage into the darkroom. As the carriage is withdrawn, the pawls 50 are tilted or swung vertically, the engagement of the bars 62 with the trailing side of finger portions 52 of pawls serving to tilt said pawls to permit them to pass over the bars when the carriage is retracted (see FIGURE 6). As the flanges pass over each successive hanger, the pawl therein supported will be tilted until the carriage is entirely retracted into the darkroom D. The lightproof cover C1 may then be closed, releasing the interlock and permitting cover C2 in wet film inspection room W to be opened, to provide access to the films deposited in the portion of tank 11 which lies within the wet film inspection room.

It will be recognized that where desired and where the length of tank 11 permits, two carriages may be used, one in the darkroom and one in the inspection room, the latter for returning the films from the inspection room to the darkroom. Alternatively, the carriage 30 may be used to return the films to the darkroom by lifting the carriage clear of the tank and rotating the same 180, whereupon the pawls will be positioned to push film hangers in the direction of the darkroom.

The above described carriage is of simple design and construction and the same may be economically fabricated. Preferably, the components are made of stainless steel for corrosion resistance. Likewise, the apertures 45, 46 preferably provide considerable clearance so that the presence of moderate amounts of scale on the circular portions of the pawls will not impede the pivoting action aforesaid.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a longitudinally extended film tank member having a pair of horizontally disposed parallel film hanger support tracks extending lengthwise along the opposite side edges of said tank, a carrier for shifting and automatically releasing a plurality of serially arranged film hanger members having spaced end portions supported on said tracks from a first position to a second position along said tracks, comprising a frame having spaced parallel side Wall portions, skid members on said frame slidably supported on said tank, a plurality of vertically disposed sheet metal flanges fixed to-one said side wall and having inner portions extending over said tank, a plurality of sheet metal flanges on said other side wall, each being in a coplanar alignment with a flange of said one side wall and having an inner portion extending over said tank, each of said flanges having its lowermost edge disposed above the level of said track, a pairof vertically spaced-apart apertures formed in said inner portion of each said flange, a gravity pawl member vertically swingably depending from said inner portion of each said flange, each said pawl member including a generally circular upper portion loosely looped through both said apertures and a depending finger portion lying adjacent the leading side of said flange, the lowermost end of said finger portions being normally located beneath the level of said track portions.

2. In a longitudinally extended film tank member having a pair of horizontally disposed parallel fil-m hanger support tracks extending lengthwise along the opposite side edges of said tank and having a runway member disposed adjacent and outwardly of each said track at a level below the level of said tracks, a carrier for shifting and automatically releasing a plurality of film-hanger members having spaced end portions supported on said tracks from a first position to a second position along said tracks comprising a frame having spaced parallel side Wall portions, skid members on said frame slidably supported on said runway members to permit longitudinal sliding movement of said frame with respect to said tank, a plurality of vertically disposed sheet metal flanges fixed to said side walls and lying normal thereto including inner portions extending over said tank, the lowermost edge of each said flange being disposed above the level of said track, a pair of vertically spaced apart apertures formed in said inner portion of each said flange, a gravity pawl member vertically swingably supported from said inner portion of each said flange, each said pawl member including a generally circular upper portion loosely looped through both said apertures and a depending finger portion lying adjacent a side of said flange, the lowermost end of said finger portions being normally located beneath the level of said track portions.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gnavity pawls comprise bent cylindrical wire and said apertures are circular in conformation and of a size to provide clearance for relative movement of said pawls within said apertures.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said gravity pawls comprise bent cylindrical wire and said apertures are circular in conformation and of a size to provide clearance for relative movement of said pawls within said apertures.

Long Sept. 25, 1934 2,459,509 Dye et a1 Jan. 18, 1949 2,964,957 Martin et al. Dec. 20, 1960 

2. IN A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDED FILM TANK MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED PARALLEL FILM HANGER SUPPORT TRACKS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID TANK AND HAVING A RUNWAY MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENT AND OUTWARDLY OF EACH SAID TRACK AT A LEVEL BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID TRACKS, A CARRIER FOR SHIFTING AND AUTOMATICALLY RELEASING A PLURALITY OF FILM HANGER MEMBERS HAVING SPACED END PORTIONS SUPPORTED ON SAID TRACKS FROM A FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION ALONG SAID TRACK COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING SPACED PARALLEL SIDE WALL PORTIONS, SKID MEMBERS ON SAID FRAME SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID RUNWAY MEMBERS TO PERMIT LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME WITH RESPECT TO SAID TANK, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED SHEET METAL FLANGES FIXED TO SAID SIDE WALLS AND LYING NORMAL THERETO INCLUDING INNER PORTIONS EXTENDING OVER SAID TANK, THE LOWERMOST EDGE OF EACH SAID FLANGE BEING DISPOSED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF SAID TRACK, A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED APART APERTURES FORMED IN SAID INNER PORTION OF EACH SAID FLANGE, A GRAVITY PAWL MEMBER VERTICALLY SWINGABLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID INNER PORTION OF EACH SAID FLANGE, EACH SAID PAWL MEMBER INCLUDING GENERALLY CIRCULAR UPPER PORTION LOOSELY LOOPED THROUGH BOTH SAID APERTURES AND A DEPENDING FINGER PORTION LYING ADJACENT A SIDE OF SAID FLANGE, THE LOWERMOST END OF SAID FINGER PORTIONS BEING NORMALLY LOCATED BENEATH THE LEVEL OF SAID TRACK PORTIONS. 